The whirling and rushing sensation that came with floo powder was no stranger to Sam. He'd even gone to Diagon Ally before many times with his father and brother. But when his stomach was whirling as well from excitement, it made the experience about twenty times more exhilarating. After what seemed like ages, he tumbled from the fireplace next to Dean; and shortly after that his father stepped neatly out after them.
"I've got to make a stop in Nocturne Ally for some supplies after we go to Greengotts." Said their father. Of course he had, that was where he got all the things he needed for hunting down criminals. "You'll have to take Sam to get his school supplies". As they walked down the narrow street bustling with Witches and Wizards of all ages, Dean saw many students he knew, and several very excited and obvious first years. He waved at his friend Lisa who was walking into Flourish and Blotts to buy her books. He'd had a crush on her since his first year, but of course she didn't know it. Her parents were with her and ushered her on as she waved very excitedly back at Dean. Her much younger brother Ben was sucking his thumb with one hand attached very firmly to the back of his mothers robes.
Soon enough they could see the crooked face of Greengotts looming before them. They entered and approached one of the goblins sitting in his high seat. The voice of Deans friend Garth echoed in his head as it always did when he thought of a stupid joke 'Do you think they're compensating for something?' the voice said. Dean chuckled slightly to himself, knowing that were Garth in fact present then he would have said exactly that. Their father presented the goblin with a big golden key, and asked in his gruff voice if they could enter their vault. The goblin who was a particularly fat specimen, grunted, and then disappeared behind his desk, and then reappeared around the side as he descended.
The fat goblin who's name turned out to be Bogglesnort led them through several tunnels and down a track in a cart to a rather small door with a very large keyhole. John Winchester had inherited the Campbell family vault when his wife had passed on. The family was considerably less well off then they had been in the past, and when the vault opened they could see a large pile of coins in the middle of the vault along with several family heirlooms on the shelves lining the walls. A rabbits foot sat next to a long dagger covered in intricate runes and designs, while across from that sat an ordinary revolver. This particular piece was, in fact not a family heirloom, but had been acquired and placed in the vault by none other than John himself. He had run out of the enchanted bullets that had gone with the gun, and had been looking for years for a way to replenish his supply, but had no luck as of yet.
The elder Winchester ignored these and the other artifacts and headed straight for the pile of coins, loading enough for their trip into a pouch on his hunting bag. They exited the spacious vault and the goblin locked their possessions inside. They followed Bogglesnort back up to the main hall and left the bank. John handed Dean several coins telling him to be careful with them, and then they separated. Him going towards Nocturne Ally and Sam holding Deans hand very firmly to keep them from getting separated in the crowd, made their way back down towards Madame Malkins robe shop.
The boys made it into the shop without incident, and sat for awhile while Madame Malkin finished fitting some dark purple dress robes on an older man. Once she was finished she beckoned to Sam.
"You don't need any do you?" She said to Dean. "I think they probably need to be lengthened a little bit" said Dean, narrowing his eyes in thought. "I do think I've grown a couple of inches since last year. "Well we'll see to that after I've gotten your brother sorted out" she said. Within the hour Sam had been fitted to his new black robes and Deans red trimmed robes had been lengthened four inches to the middle of his shoes. Here they also found him a bag to carry books and things which Sam was very proud of and looped over his head immediately. Dean handed Madame Malkin two galleons and he got twelve sickles and three knuts back as change. They waved goodbye as they left the shop, and then headed to Ollivanders wand store.
They entered the dusty shop with a solemnity that was indicative of sacred ground. Dean had only entered the shop once, when he had gotten his wand two years ago, and he would most likely never forget the experience. It had taken him ages for his wand to choose him. Ollivander had said that he had never really experienced something quite like it.
"I could have sworn" he had said gravely "that you were going to be a Dragon Heartstring quite interesting that you got Unicorn hair, I'm hardly wrong when sizing someone up like that." He had packed Deans wand away in tissue paper, and handed it to him while saying "This wand waited a long while to choose you and it is very special. Make sure you take good care of it." Dean had nodded gravely.
As Sam walked into Ollivanders he felt very small. There was dust everywhere with stacks and stacks of wand boxes. Ollivander came whisking out from behind a shelf full of green boxes with a dark grey box in his hand.
"Now then try this one" he said with a knowing look. Sam looked back at Dean with an almost frightened look in his eyes. Dean nodded reassuringly, and Sam took the wand. He gave it a little flick like he had seen his Dad do to light fires, but nothing happened.
"Well" said Ollivander "it seems you don't take after your brother." At this he climbed high on a ladder attached to the shelf that held the green boxes, and selected one from the very top of the pile. He handed it to Sam with a confidant smile, and that was it. Sam felt something wonderful rush through him, and he knew that this was the wand. He grinned as Ollivander took the wand back, packed it in its box and gave Dean the bill. Sam cracked open the lid of the forrest green box to take a look at his wonderful new possession, and then put it very carefully into his new bag.
The rest of the shopping trip went without incident. Flourish and Blotts was the ordinary book run, and after the wand and robes, was considerably less exciting. At least that's what Dean thought, until he happened to glance at his brother who was absolutely delighted to be among all of the big dusty tomes at the top of the store. Next they got deans new cauldron and a basic one for Sam. Soon enough their shopping list was at an end, and their money almost was as well. So they spent the last bit on an ice cream sunday at Fortescue's ice cream parlour, and waited for their Dad to be finished with his supplies run. Before long they saw him walking towards them with his hunting bag packed to the brim.
"Come on" he said gruffly. "lets get on home."