Chapter 2: Exploring Diagon Alley
'I need to be myself and find my own identity'.
-The Leaky Cauldron Charing Cross Road, London 1st August, 1991
Vernon dropped Harry at the parking lot across the street from The Leaky Cauldron.
Harry through over his invisibility cloak and disappeared from sight. He waited patiently for the door to open and slipped inside unnoticed.
When he got to the courtyard he tapped his wand warily on the bricks 'Three up...two across' He recalled and watched in wonder and awe as the bricks that he touched quivered and wriggled in the middle, a small hole appeared that grew wider until it had become large enough for a half-giant like Hagrid to fit through.
Harry whipped over his invisibility cloak over and stepped through an archway onto a cobbled street which, is twisted and turned out of sight. 'So, this must be Diagon Alley' He mused to himself. The alley was just as brilliant and magical as the HP books described.
He made his way to Gringotts taking in the sights as he went along. He then, climbed the stairs up to the grand entrance doors. The uniformed guard at the door bowed to Harry as he walked inside. He dodged around the people milling around in the lobby and went up to a rather bored looking clerk who was eyeing Harry, with a look of disdain.
Harry cleared his throat.
"Yes," The goblin asked with a rather sinister looking smile.
"I need access to vault 687" He then proceeded to hand the goblin his gold key "I'd also like to inquire about obtaining a bank draft or card if that is at all possible. And I would also like to be made aware of any other vaults that I am entitled too" He told the goblin.
The goblin opened a large book at his left and began flicking through the pages. He trailed his finger down the names until he tapped it when he came to Potter. "Vault 687 is a trust fund, Mr. Potter. You also have another vault 704, which is the main vault that you will be granted access to when you come of age at 17" He then, reached down underneath the counter and pulled out a bank draft book and proceeded to explain how it worked.
Afterwards Harry followed the goblin down to the carts and enjoyed the ride down to the vaults. Desmond could understand now why Harry had enjoyed it so much. The cart soon slowed down at Vault 687 and came to a stop. The goblin hopped out and opened the vault. "Here you are, Mr. Potter" He said with a small bow.
Inside were mounds of gold coins. Columns of silver. Heaps of little bronze Knuts.
"How much is here?" Harry couldn't help, but ask.
"Currently this vault has 1711 Galleons, 1604 Sickles and 462 Knuts, which is approximately £12,480.96".
"And just out of interest how much does Hogwarts supplies and robes around here normally cost per year?".
"Anywhere from 50 to 100 Galleons. It depends on whether or not what you buy is new or second-hand as well as the quality of the robes" Replied the goblin.
"So, that would mean I need to keep seven hundred Galleons for my education. And then four hundred Galleons, eleven Sickles and nineteen Knuts for seven years rent, which leaves me with roughly six hundred and eleven Galleons left to spare. That's approximately three thousand and forty two pounds and seventy-seven pence in Muggle currency" He said quickly calculating how much he could afford to spend.
The goblin handed Harry a bottomless money pouch, which he shovelled money into. Sixty Galleons, four Sickles and two Knuts to pay his rent. He also collected fifty Galleons, three Sickles and eleven Knuts that would go towards buying new Muggle clothes, so that he no longer would be forced to wear Dudley's cast offs.
When Harry resurfaced from the underground vault. He left the bank a good deal wealthier and with his new bank draft book. He then went over to Gringotts exchange and had his wizarding money that he had drawn out from his bank exchanged into Muggle currency.
Once he had finished his business at Gringotts exchange. His first stop was to Madam Lux opticians. He went and got a full check up before picking out two new pairs of glasses that were better suited to his needs. He was glad to finally be rid of his old taped up old fashioned glasses.
Afterwards, Harry stopped off at Weeoanwhikser's Barber Shop, for a haircut. He was hoping that the barber would be able to tame his dishevelled mop of hair. Once the barber was finished, Harry couldn't believe the difference that a haircut and new glasses could make. He was happy with the result and hopefully his aunt would be too now that his hair had been tamed after half an hour using several spells and a lot of hair product.
Harry stopped by a wizarding beauty parlour, he had them conceal his famous lightning bolt scar using muggle dermaflage scar make-up as wearing a glamour charm would be useless in covering up his cursed lightning bolt scar.
He then went to Ollivander's. Making his way through the crowd. He slipped into the store and took off his invisibility cloak.
"Good morning, Mr. Potter".
"Mr. Ollivander" He greeted.
"What can I do for you, Mr. Potter?" Ollivander asked curiously "Your wand is still in working order is it not?".
"Yes, sir" He replied "Can I get a polishing kit and two good quality wand holders?" He asked.
Harry was planning to go into Knockturn Alley and find another wand as the Phoenix wand would be useless to him when facing Voldemort in a proper wizarding duel since they could only wound, but not kill each other.
"Of course, Mr. Potter. It's good to see a wizard who desires to take care of his wand. Many people nowadays take their wands for granted" Ollivander said, reaching underneath the counter and set a wooden box and then two leather holders on top of the counter. "That will be twenty one Galleons, two Sickles and a Knut".
"Do you take bank draft?" Harry questioned.
Ollivander nodded.
Harry took out his Gringotts bank draft book and vault key. Pressing his key onto the check box. He waited for Ollivander to do the same. The sheet flashed briefly and an authorized red Gringotts stamp appeared as the sheet stored itself in an attached pouch for proof of purchase.
"Have a good day, sir" He told him.
"Same to you, Mr. Potter," Ollivander said as he drifted off towards the shelves.
Harry then, went back underneath his invisibility cloak and went into Knockturn Alley in search of a few books and a new wand.
He had paid a visit to Moribund's Second-Hand Wand Shop and left with a beautiful handcrafted '12' inch wand that is quite rigid and made from Bloodwood with an Augurey Tail Feather'.
The shop keeper had told him that Bloodwood wands are very rare. Bloodwood wands are reputed to choose wizards who are strong at heart. They do not work well for the weak of heart or mind. Those who have this wand are often those who will do anything to protect those around them even at the cost of themselves. And that Augureys, or Irish phoenixes, were once associated with powerful Dark wands, as their cries were thought to signify an upcoming death. However, they were in reality a very versatile wand core and can be either Dark or Light. The Augurey wand has no certain divinity and will choose what it's owner chooses as it is a very loyal bond. Misunderstood students tend to find themselves bonded to an Augurey wand, although these wands are altogether quite rare. His secondary wand was listed as being confiscated from a wizard who was currently serving a life sentence in Azkaban.
His last stop was at an old book-store. He purchased books on;
Runes and Symbolic Magic
Sanguine Magic: The Dark Arts of Blood
The Psychic Vampire Codex: A Manual for The Newly Awakened
Psychic Vampires: Protection from Energy Predators & Parasites
Protection Charm Your Mind: A Practical Guide to Counter Legilimency
A Compendium of Common Curses and Their Counter-Actions
Olde and Forgotten Bewitchments and Charmes
A Journey Through The History of Magic
The Dark Arts: Grade 1
Healer's Helpmate
Moste Potente Potions
Once, Harry was finished he stopped by Jellied Eel Shop for an old-style deli sandwich and a butter beer before heading home to 4# Privet Drive. He had a lot of work to do and in such little time to do it all in.