Chapter 2
Hey guys. Hope you read and enjoy
Amy woke up on her 11th birthday. She sang herself a happy birthday and made a wish. The one she always made that someone come and whisk her away. She was in her room not let out as usual when she heard the door bell ring and few moments later, there was shouting and screaming. She ignored it. It was probably a sales man or something. Uncle Vernon hated door to door sales people and always took the opportunity to insult them. There was silence.
She looked up surprised when there was a knock on her door. Who would be knocking to see her? Diana, her aunt and uncle didn't knock. She walked slowly to the door and opened the door to a crack and peered outside in case it was Diana and her friends.
She was surprised when she saw a very tall woman with black hair tied in a tight bun wearing what looked to be a blue cloak. The woman's eyes were jade green and behind spectacles.
"Hello Amaryllis. My name is professor McGonagall." said the woman and then she said, "May I come in?" gently.
Amy looked at the woman skeptically before she nodded left the door open and went to sit on her bed and looked at the woman not saying anything.
Minerva looked at the girl before her after she closed the door. She was very tiny for her age and she was dressed in ghastly clothes that had been altered. That was another red flag considering Amy hadn't seen her letter and there was nothing in the house that showed she existed. If she didn't know Petunia she would have thought she got lost and entered the wrong house. She also noticed Amy looked a lot like Lily even though she had her father's jet black hair. They had the same heart shape face, eyes and even facial expressions.
What worried her more was the emotionless face that looked at her. Those green eyes didn't have the same youthful glee Lily's had. They were blank with hidden sorrows. They were not the eyes of a child.
"I have come to give you this." McGonagall reached in her pockets and handed her a yellowish envelope like the one uncle Vernon had taken from her addressed in emerald green to Miss. A. Potter, The Smallest bedroom, Private Drive. Amy pulled out the letter and took it and read
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards )
Dear Miss. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on September 1. Please sigh at the bottom of the slip inside. We await your reply by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
"Is this school real, professor? There is actually a school for magic?" asked Amy unable to believe it. She had never heard of such a school before.
"Yes it is. There are some schools all over Britain but Hogwarts is the biggest and most popular. I am a professor there." said the woman to Amy who looked from the letter to the tall woman skeptically. "You do not know about Hogwarts?" asked Minerva.
"No. I don't ma'am. Am I supposed to?" asked Amy innocently and Minerva had to control her rage. How dare the Dusleys not tell her of Hogwarts?
"Yes. It is a school of people like you and I who can do magic."
"This is real right? This is not a prank then?" asked Amy looking at McGonagall hope in her eyes. McGonagall's eyes lashed with anger at the Dusleys.
"No. I teach magic there and I taught your parents."
"They were at Hogwarts too?" asked Amy.
"Yes. They were head girl and head boy. You look a lot like your mother."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Amy nodded and then she saw the acceptance slip. She took a pen and signed. When she did, the slip glowed before it disappeared.
"Professor, how did my parents die?" asked Amy looking at the woman.
At first Minerva was taken aback by the question. "Why do you ask?"
"Aunt and uncle said they died in a car crush and that was how I got my scar. I sometimes see my mother being hit by a green light and it doesn't look like a car crush to me." said Amy.
Minerva was stunned that Amy remembered the night and the way the Dusleys mainly Petunia lied to Amy. "You are right. They did not die in a car crush. That green light is from a killing curse. An evil wizard named Voldemort killed them."
"So how did I get my scar?"
"This is hard to say but he tried to kill you too."
Amy's eyes went wide. "Me? Why?"
"We don't know the reason. It is believed it may be because your parents opposed him. He failed and you ended up with that scar."
"Where is he now? The evil wizard?"
"He disappeared that night."
"He is not dead?"
"No probably in hiding somewhere." Amy nodded. Minerva smiled sadly at the tiny girl.
"So I am really going to Hogwarts?"
"Yes. I am here so we can go and buy your things. There is another paper inside with your list." Amy looked inside and saw another paper. She opened it.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY uniform
First-year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. 3 dark grey skirt and white shirts
4. Dark grey socks
5. Black polish able shoes
6. 1 plain tie
7. Black plain sweater
8. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
9. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags
Course books
All students should have a copy of each of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection by Quentin Trimble
Other equipment
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
A laptop if available
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad
PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS
"Can we buy all this in London?" Amy asked amazed. She had never been in London before.
"Of course if you know where to look. Now let's get a move on." Amy lightened up and took her bag then her face fell.
"I am not so sure my uncle will pay for this. I am going to Stonewall because they can't afford a high tuition fee."
"Don't worry. Your parents left you money in the magical bank."
"You have banks too?"
"Yes but here in Britain we have one main one named Gringotts now let's get going."
As they left, her aunt and uncle threw her dirty looks but she ignored them. She felt safe with this woman. When she came back however… she didn't know what would be waiting for her.
"How did you convince them to let me go?" asked Amy curiously.
"Persuasion and a little bit of magic." said McGonagall and Amy smiled. She had a feeling after this trip, her life will have improved.
DIAGON ALLEY
They took the train to London with Amy so excited she could barely speak. She looked around the shops in interest till Professor McGonagall stopped in front of a small pub which Amy wouldn't have noticed if they hadn't stop there. The people hurrying by didn't glance at it. Their eyes slid from the big book shop on one side to the record shop on the other as if they couldn't see the small door at all.
"This is the Leaky Cauldron."
"Other people can't see it right?"
"Yes. Only magical people can see it." said Professor McGonagall then steered her inside. Inside, it was very dark and shabby. A few old women were sitting in a corner, drinking tiny glasses of sherry. One of them was smoking a long pipe. A little man in a top hat was talking to the old bartender, who was quite bald and looked like a toothless walnut. The low buzz of chatter stopped when they walked in.
Everyone seemed to know Professor McGonagall; they waved and smiled at her, and the bartender reached for a glass, saying, "Minerva! Can I get you something?"
"Not at all Tom. I have business to do." said Professor McGonagall, pointing at Amy.
"Good Lord," said the bartender, peering at Amy, "is this — can this be — ?" The Leaky Cauldron had suddenly gone completely still and silent.
"Bless my soul," whispered the old bartender, "Amaryllis Potter . . . what an honor." He hurried out from behind the bar, rushed toward Amy and seized her hand, tears in his eyes. "Welcome back, Miss. Potter, welcome back."
Amy didn't know what to say. Everyone was looking at her. She was terrified as people came to her and she held on tightly to Professor McGonagall. McGonagall saw this and said, "We have to go now." steering Amy on.
A young man in a turban and robes came to them. "P-pro-professor M-McGonagall…" he said stammering.
"Professor Quirrell!" said Professor McGonagall then turned to Amy.
"Amy, Professor Quirrell will be one of your teachers at Hogwarts."
"P-P-Potter," stammered Professor Quirrell, grasping Amy's hand making her flinch, "c-can't t-tell you how p-pleased I am to meet you."
"How are you sir?"
"F…fine…"
"What do you teach?" "D…Defense Against t-t-the dark a-a-arts not that you need it h-h-hey…" Amy was amused. He looked like the very subject scared him. They bid him farewell and
McGonagall led her out back. The brick she had touched quivered — it wriggled — in the middle, a small hole appeared — it grew wider and wider — a second later they were facing an archway onto a cobbled street that twisted and turned out of sight.
"Well, this is Diagon Alley," said Professor McGonagall.
Amy was amazed. They stepped through the archway. Amy looked quickly over her shoulder and saw the archway shrink instantly back into solid wall.
"Wow!" The sun shone brightly on a stack of cauldron outside the nearest shop. Cauldron — All Sizes — Copper, Brass, Pewter, Silver — Self-Stirring — Collapsible, said a sign hanging over them. Amy wished she had about eight more eyes. She turned her head in every direction as they walked up the street, trying to look at everything at once: the shops, the things outside them, the people doing their shopping. A plump woman outside an Apothecary was shaking her head as they passed, saying, "Dragon liver, sixteen Sickles an ounce, they're mad." She couldn't believe there was a whole new world hidden like this.
A low, soft hooting came from a dark shop with a sign saying Eeylops Owl Emporium — Tawny, Screech, Barn, Brown, and Snowy. Several boys of about Amy's age had their noses pressed against a window with broomsticks in it. "Look," Amy heard one of them say, "the new Nimbus Two Thousand — fastest ever —" There were shops selling robes, shops selling telescopes and strange silver instruments Amy had never seen before, windows stacked with barrels of bat spleens and eels' eyes, tottering piles of spell books, quills, and rolls of parchment, potion bottles, globes of the moon. . . .
Gringotts Bank and finances
They reached Gringotts Bank a snowy white building that towered over the other little shops. Standing beside its burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was — "That is a goblin," said Professor McGonagall quietly as they walked up the white stone steps toward her. The goblin was about a head shorter than Amy. He had a swarthy, clever face, a pointed beard and, Amy noticed, very long fingers and feet. He bowed as they walked inside. Now they were facing a second pair of doors, silver this time, with words engraved upon them:
Enter, stranger, but take heed
Of what awaits the sin of greed,
For those who take, but do not earn,
Must pay most dearly in their turn.
So if you seek beneath our floors
A treasure that was never yours,
Thief, you have been warned, beware
Of finding more than treasure there.
A pair of goblins bowed them through the silver doors and they were in a vast marble hall. About a hundred more goblins were sitting on high stools behind a long counter, scribbling in large ledgers, weighing coins in brass scales, examining precious stones through eyeglasses. There were too many doors to count leading off the hall, and yet more goblins were showing people in and out of these. Professor McGonagall and Amy made for the counter.
"Morning," said Professor McGonagall to a free goblin.
"We have come to see the Potter Accounts Manager. I am Lady McGonagall with Miss Potter."
"Ok. We need a drop of Miss Potter's blood for verification."
"Go on. It won't hurt." said McGonagall as she lifted Amy onto the stool to reach the high desk and sure enough it didn't hurt.
"Ok. That seems to be in order. I will have someone take you to the office. Sharptooth!"
Sharptooth was yet another goblin. She and McGonagall followed him toward one of the doors leading off the hall. Sharptooth held the door open for them. They were led down marble corridors till they came to a door and Sharptooth knocked on the door before opening it. The office was large airy and nice with deep brown carpets and decorated in gold and brown. There was a couch and 2 chairs.
"Master Griphook, Miss Potter is here to see you and has the Lady of clan McGonagall."
"Of course."
Minerva greeted them formerly and Amy followed suit. "Please take a seat." Amy sat down and the chair was very comfy.
"It is good to see you again Miss Potter. I am Griphook, financial manager of the Potter estate."
Amy's eyes went wide. "Estate?"
"Yes. Your family is one of our most valuable clients Miss Potter. When you come of age you will be the richest lady in magical Britain."
"So if I am this rich couldn't I have lived with someone else or couldn't you have provided my guardians with money to look after me?"
"What do you mean?" asked Griphook puzzled.
"They um they call me a burden and that I was saddled on them. Maybe if they had financial boost they would not have to sacrifice a lot." said Amy sadly not really wanting to talk about it. Minerva felt her heart pang at the admission.
"Miss Potter, we set up money for your guardians named Mr. and Mrs. Dusley for 50 000 pounds per year for the last 10 years."
Amy sat there her mouth agape. It did make sense. Her uncle couldn't have had that much money to buy such expensive things for Diana and themselves and for the trips they had. Uncle Vernon was an executive but Grunnings was a small company for them to splurge like that. She remembered all the times she had gone hungry, been laughed at because of her second hand clothes and all the times she had been beaten for being a burden. Yes she had been left at the doorstep but they had money to take care of her. That meant that she had not been a burden to them. It meant they hated her. That hurt a lot.
"Miss Potter?"
"I would like for you to cut it down to 500 pounds."
"500?" asked Minerva surprised.
"I never benefited from the money you gave them. I believe I only used a little over 6500 including my fees out of 50 000 each year. I believe I have paid my due already. The rest I will use it myself to buy my own food and clothes. Can I do that?" she directed the last question to Minerva who still shocked at the confessions nodded. She had known it was a bad idea to leave Amy with the Dusleys.
"I will work out an arrangement. I believe from your state of clothing they are not meeting the needs?" asked Griphook he too incensed. Children were a treasure to goblins and they never mistreated a child no matter how heartless.
"Yes. I would have loved to actually move out but I am still a minor so I will settle with this. Can this be effective next month?"
"Of course. Your parents also left you a trust fund that does not include fees. It is 1 000 galleons refilled every year. When you turn 13 it will be raised to 2 000 and when you turn 15 it will be raised to 5 000. On your 17th birthday, you will inherit the Potter estate. I will give you a card that will work both in the magical and wizard world that will deduct from your trust vault. We shall add the money from your guardians in there."
Minerva was astounded at the amounts being stated though she knew the Potters were very rich. "How much is 1 000 galleons in pounds?" asked Amy.
"1 galleon is 20 pounds so you have 20 000 pounds per year which will be raised to 40 000 pounds and then to 100 000 pounds per year."
"If it's that much then keep the guardian fees in the main account. I don't want too much money. I will be at school most of the time."
"Very well. You are a very responsible girl. I have this for you." said Griphook. Griphook took a ring. "This is the heir's ring. This makes it able for you to access the Potter properties, libraries and make some minor decisions. Your family stated you be given this at 11 since there is no head of family in place and you are the last heir."
Amy nodded and she took the ring. She wore it and it glowed before it resized to fit her and she felt warmth.
"Now let me show you the Potter properties." He took out a book and showed her the properties. There were many scattered across the world.
"How do I access them?"
"The ring you wear is a portkey and will take you there." said Griphook and she nodded happily. "You cannot however access the properties outside Britain as you will need a portkey made by the ministry." Amy nodded in understanding.
In Britain there were 4 properties. Potter manor, Cottage in Godric Hallow which was destroyed, a pent house in central London and a farm house in Wales. Amy was awed. She decided to visit the places. She got her card and thanked Griphook then they were on their way.
They stopped at the entrance of the bank and Amy found herself in front of a larger than life man.
"Professor McGonagall ma'am."
"Hello Hagrid. What brings you here?"
"Professor Dumbledore sent me to collect the 'you know what'."
"Aah, of course." and then the large man's eyes went wide as he saw Amy. "No! Amy? Is that…" then Amy found herself in a huge hug. "Oh I can't believe I am seeing yeh. When I last seen yeh, yeh were just a baby."
Amy liked the big man. He seemed cuddly and nice.
"I am Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts."
"Good to see you Hagrid." said Amy politely.
"Yeh look just like yeh mum. Great people yeh parents."
Amy was happy to hear about her parents. They eventually left a teary Hagrid 5 minutes later with Amy wondering what is a 'you know what'? Professor McGonagall didn't tell her and looked nervous at her question.
SHOPPING SPREE
Amy looked around not knowing where to run first now that she had a card full of money. She couldn't believe she was this rich. She could not work in her life and support her children and grandchildren living a high life. In the muggle world she would be a billionaire.
"Ok. Let us go and get your uniform first." said Professor McGonagall leading her towards Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions. Madam Malkin was a squat, smiling witch dressed all in mauve.
"Ah Minerva! Long time." "Hello Maurine. Long time. I have come to get some uniform for my charge here."
"Of course. I got the Hogwarts lot here. " Amy was led to the back of the shop and stood on a stool while her measurements were being taken. When Amy was done she had her new uniform and Amy managed to get 3 formal dresses and nice casual dresses.
They bought Amy's school books in a shop called Flourish and Blotts where the shelves were stacked to the ceiling with books as large as paving stones bound in leather; books the size of postage stamps in covers of silk; books full of peculiar symbols and a few books with nothing in them at all. Even Diana, who never read anything, would have been wild to get her hands on some of these.
Amy managed to get a few novels and extra books just to read since she didn't know a lot or anything at all about the magical world. She needed to learn as much as she could.
Then they visited the trunk store, stationery store where Amy bought a nice artist set, Apothecary, which was fascinating enough to make up for its horrible smell, a mixture of bad eggs and rotted cabbages. Barrels of slimy stuff stood on the floor; jars of herbs, dried roots, and bright powders lined the walls; bundles of feathers, strings of fangs, and snarled claws hung from the ceiling. While Professor McGonagall asked the man behind the counter for a supply of some basic potion ingredients for Amy, Amy examined silver unicorn horns at twenty-one Galleons each and minuscule, glittery-black beetle eyes (five Knuts a scoop).
Outside the Apothecary, Professor McGonagall said, "Ok now left your pet and wand." A magic wand… this was what Amy had been really looking forward to all day.
They went to the pet store first. They were a lot of animals in there with rats, cats, owls, ravens, parrots… Professor McGonagall began looking at some pet food while she looked around. She saw a beautiful snow white owl with big amber eyes. She fell in love instantly. She took it and bought a cage, an owl stand and some snacks for her.
The last shop was narrow and shabby. Peeling gold letters over the door read Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 b.c. A single wand lay on a faded purple cushion in the dusty window. A tinkling bell rang somewhere in the depths of the shop as they stepped inside. It was a tiny place, empty except for a single, spindly chair that Professor McGonagall sat on to wait.
Amy felt strangely as though she had entered a very strict library; she swallowed a lot of new questions that had just occurred to him and looked instead at the thousands of narrow boxes piled neatly right up to the ceiling. For some reason, the back of her neck prickled. The very dust and silence in here seemed to tingle with some secret magic.
"Good afternoon," said a soft voice. Amy jumped while Professor McGonagall got off the chair and stood beside her. An old man was standing before them, his wide, pale eyes shining like moons through the gloom of the shop.
"Hello," said Amy awkwardly.
"Ah yes," said the man. "Yes, yes. I thought I'd be seeing you soon. Amaryllis Potter." It wasn't a question. "You look just like your mother Lily. It seems only yesterday she was in here herself, buying her first wand. Ten and a quarter inches long, swishy, made of willow. Nice wand for charm work." Mr. Ollivander moved closer to Amy.
Amy wished he would blink. Those silvery eyes were a bit creepy.
"Your father James, on the other hand, favored a mahogany wand. Eleven inches. Pliable. A little more power and excellent for transfiguration. Well, I say your father favored it — it's really the wand that chooses the wizard, of course."
Mr. Ollivander had come so close that he and Amy were almost nose to nose. Amy could see herself reflected in those misty eyes. "And that's where . . ." Mr. Ollivander touched the lightning scar on Amy's forehead with a long, white finger.
"I'm sorry to say I sold the wand that did it," he said softly. "Thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Powerful wand, very powerful, and in the wrong hands . . . well, if I'd known what that wand was going out into the world to do. . . ."
He shook his head and then, to Amy's relief, spotted Professor McGonagall. "Minerva! Minerva McGonagall! How nice to see you again. . . . Fir, Dragon heartstring Nine and a half inches, stiff, wasn't it?"
"Of course," said Professor McGonagall.
"Very Good wand for transfiguration, that one. Excellent."
"Well, now — Miss. Potter. Let me see."
He pulled a long tape measure with silver markings out of his pocket. "Which is your wand arm?"
"Er — well, I'm right-handed," said Amy.
"Hold out your arm. That's it." He measured Amy from shoulder to finger, then wrist to elbow, shoulder to floor, knee to armpit and round her head.
As he measured, he said, "Every Ollivander wand has a core of a powerful magical substance, Miss. Potter. We use unicorn hairs, phoenix tail feathers, and the heartstrings of dragons. No two Ollivander wands are the same, just as no two unicorns, dragons, or phoenixes are quite the same. And of course, you will never get such good results with another wizard's wand."
Amy suddenly realized that the tape measure, which was measuring between her nostrils, was doing this on its own. Mr. Ollivander was flitting around the shelves, taking down boxes.
"That will do," he said, and the tape measure crumpled into a heap on the floor. "Right then, Miss. Potter. Try this one. Beechwood and dragon heartstring. Nine inches. Nice and flexible. Just take it and give it a wave."
Amy took the wand and (feeling foolish) waved it around a bit, but Mr. Ollivander snatched it out of his hand almost at once.
"Maple and phoenix feather. Seven inches. Quite whippy. Try —" Amy tried — but she had hardly raised the wand when it, too, was snatched back by Mr. Ollivander. "No, no — here, ebony and unicorn hair, eight and a half inches, springy. Go on, go on, try it out."
Amy tried. And tried. She had no idea what Mr. Ollivander was waiting for. The pile of tried wands was mounting higher and higher on the spindly chair, but the more wands Mr. Ollivander pulled from the shelves, the happier he seemed to become.
"Tricky customer, eh? Not to worry, we'll find the perfect match here somewhere — I wonder, now — yes, why not — holly and phoenix feather, eleven inches, nice and supple."
Amy took the wand. She felt sudden warmth in her fingers as soon as she touched it which began to spread giving her a sense of invisibility… When she opened her eyes, everything was on the floor like there had been a hurricane and both McGonagall and Ollivander were crouching down.
"I have never seen anything like that before… Such raw power… you are definitely destined for greatness Miss Potter." said Olivander. "Well, well, well . . . how curious . . . how very curious . . ." He put Amy's wand back into its box and wrapped it in brown paper, still muttering, "Curious . . . curious . . ."
"Sorry," said Amy, "but what's curious?"
Mr. Ollivander fixed Amy with his pale stare. "I remember every wand I've ever sold, Miss. Potter. Every single wand. It so happens that the phoenix whose tail feather is in your wand, gave another feather — just one other. It is very curious indeed that you should be destined for this wand when its brother — why, its brother gave you that scar."
Amy swallowed. "Yes, thirteen-and-a-half inches. Yew. Curious indeed how these things happen. The wand chooses the wizard, remember. . . . I think we must expect great things from you, Miss. Potter. . . . After all, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named did great things — terrible, yes, but great."." Amy shivered and paid seven gold Galleons for her wand, and Mr. Ollivander bowed them from his shop.
Xxx
"Professor, can I buy some clothes?" Amy had used 55 galleons (1 100 pounds) for her school things and she wanted to get some stuff for herself.
"Of course." There were many clothes shops from high class to low class. Amy realized the clothes were the same as in the muggle world except they had moving pictures and had stuff like broomsticks, snitches and musicians not known to muggles and words that would mean nothing to muggles.
Amy had so much fun. She chose t-shirts, nice tops, jeans, a few skirts, dresses and shoes. She also bought herself a hair brush and accessories. Professor McGonagall's heart fluttered as she saw the look of pure joy on Amy's face as she tried on new clothes. She used 320 galleons (6 400 pounds) on clothes and accessories since she had to buy everything from scratch. It felt good to have clothes that actually fit. She also bought a present for the professor who actually blushed and thanked her.
After that, she needed a laptop and it was then she discovered they were other alleys beside Diagon Alley.
There was Nortic Alley with the gadgets and furniture shops, Knockturn Alley with dark items and Mort Alley with the pharmacies and professional buildings like social services, law firms etc.
They went to Nortic Alley and Amy is in awe. She beamed when she saw a gadget store. Inside, Amy was surprised to see Laptops, music pads, phones, TV, radio… "You have these things too?" asked Amy amazed.
"Of course. The only difference is they are powered by magic and use the magical wireless."
"Wow! So can I go on muggle sites on this?" asked Amy.
"Yes. The reason this technology was made was because some muggle born students and muggle raised like you wanted to continue muggle school so you can have online classes with it."
"Can I use it at home?"
"Unfortunately it works in magically saturated places like here in Diagon Alley, at school or a magical home."
"So it will work in Potter manor?"
"Definitely."
"Are we allowed at school?"
"Of course. There is a computer lab in school but it is often full and used in slots so it is easier to have your own."
Amy began to look around for the perfect laptop for herself. She found one by Dragon Corporations which cost, 25 galleons. The store owner set her up to the wizard wireless network which was equivalent to internet used in magical Britain, installed Dragonfire the popular web browser equivalent to Mozilla Firefox.
Amy was so happy she had her own computer which could work in the muggle world. She also bought herself a nice phone and she got the number 0772 which was the code for all magical in Britain. Her number was 919 644. She was very pleased. All in all she had used 418 galleons. She couldn't believe she hadn't used half of her money.
The late afternoon sun hung low in the sky as Amy and Professor McGonagall made their way back down Diagon Alley, back through the wall, back through the Leaky Cauldron, now empty.
Professor McGonagall said, "Got time for a bite to eat before your train comes," she said. Amy was still quiet and looked to be in thought.
"Amy I wish to apologize to you."
"For what ma'am?"
"I was there when you were left at the Dusleys. I watched them and saw they were not ideal. I tried to tell professor Dumbledore but he felt it was the best."
Amy was silent. "Who else was there?"
"Hagrid brought you." Amy nodded. "I understand I should have fought harder." "
It's ok. I don't blame any of you. They are my family. I am just angry you didn't explain to them or even talk to them. You just left me alone on the doorstep. You didn't bother to even knock. You didn't even come to check on me."
McGonagall looked down sadly. "I apologize." Amy nodded. After a while it was time for her to go.
"You can use your wand at home but only in front of the Dusleys since they know magic and no one else ok?" Amy nodded.
Amy went home feeling very happy. She had new clothes and was going to a magic school in September where her parents attended. It was awesome. This had been the best birthday ever.
I know. This is quite different isn't it? It has always pained me that the magical world was so behind. They have radios yet they cannot advance to have TV, computers etc. don't forget, the computers are powered by magic and do wear out with time.
Please review and tell me what you think. Next chapter is the confrontation between Amy and the Dusleys. Ideas and constructive criticism is very much welcome.