Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

By Ralindir

Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter series, which is a shame. I do not, either, own Anna, as she is my sister. The latter owns itself.

A/N:

Chapter 2: Diagon Alley, mistaken identities and the Hogwarts Express

Last Chapter: "Thanks," she said, her voice slightly croaky. Hermione patted her on the back and they left the room, going down the stairs to find McGonagall. Downstairs was a like a pub, kind of grubby but not filthy. McGonagall was sitting at the bar, talking to a thin, pale man wearing a purple turban. They seemed very busy talking so the two girls only interrupted long enough to say they were going into Diagon Alley and be given two letters by McGonagall before they went out the back of the pub. Hermione tapped a brick on the wall and the wall parted, creating a large archway and revealing a long, busy street full of shops and people. The walked quickly along the street until they found an ice-cream parlour. There they stopped, buying two large chocolate sundaes, Hermione paying with large gold coins called galleons. They sat outside to eat the sundaes and look at the letters McGonagall had given them.

"Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Uniform…Books…Other Equipment…" Anna looked up at Hermione who was reading her own list. "It's a lot of stuff, isn't it?"

"Yeah…" Hermione murmured, before she took at large bite of her sundae. A rather too large bite. She dropped her list and look as if she was about to spit the ice-cream out but she didn't. Eventually, she managed to swallow the glob of ice-cream and then sat there, holding her head as she got a major ice-cream headache and Anna cracked up.

"Ohhh…" Hermione moaned, holding her head. Anna stopped laughing for a minute.

"If you rub your forehead really hard until the pain goes from there and the rub your nose really hard, it'll go away," Anna suggested. Hermione tried it and the pain quickly left. She picked up her list again and glanced over at Anna. Anna grinned back.

"So…how am I going to pay for all this stuff?" Anna asked as she resumed reading her list. She looked up and looked down the long, busy street in front of her. "I've only got three thousand Baht." Hermione looked confused so Anna explained. "Baht is the Thai currency."

"Well, we'd better ask McGonagall about that. But today, let's just have a look around." The two girls wandered around Diagon Alley for the rest of the day, looking at different books and other things you could buy there. When it was approaching nightfall, they started to head back to the Leaky Cauldron. McGonagall wasn't anywhere in sight so they sat down at one of the tables and had something to eat, talking about the different things they had seen that afternoon. Soon after they had finished, McGonagall turned up, via the fireplace. She saw the two girls and strode over to sit with them.

"Have a good afternoon?" she asked, smiling stiffly. The two girls nodded, slightly shocked by how McGonagall had arrived. There was silence for a moment and then Anna spoke up.

"Um…Professor. How am I going to pay for my school stuff? I don't have any wizard's money and very little muggle money," she asked. Hermione had explained to her about muggles, muggleborns and squibs during their meal. McGonagall smiled again.

"Well, although you may think that you are a muggleborn, you are not, in a way. Your father is a squib. His family line holds some of the richest and most powerful wizards and witches ever and, as your father was an only child and there are no other living wizards or witches who could inherit all your grandparents' property and money, you inherit it," she said. Anna's jaw dropped.

"So…I'm actually rich?" she said slowly, processing all this information.

"Technically, no. You are only allowed to withdraw enough money for school and those sorts of things until you are of age." Anna looked rather bummed at this. "But I think that you two should go to bed now. You have to get up early tomorrow to get all your school stuff."

Anna woke up at about 5 o'clock in the morning, staring at the dusty roof of her four-poster bed. For a second she didn't know where she was and then she remembered.

"I'm a witch," she whispered, sitting up and looking around the room. Eventually, she got up and got changed, ready to go downstairs. The pub below wasn't very busy, just Tom, the barman, and a couple of people who were already having breakfast. Anna sat down and had some breakfast herself before Hermione finally came down, around 7 o'clock.

"You sleep late, Hermione. And you snore," Anna laughed at her slightly befuddled friend. Hermione glared at her and sat down next to her, ordering breakfast. Anna continued. "I was up at 5."

"Yeah, well, good for you," she muttered as her bacon and eggs arrived. McGonagall still wasn't around and Hermione headed back up to her room to do some reading, claiming that it was too noisy to read with Anna next to her, so Anna decided to head into Diagon Alley herself. She opened the gateway to the street with a little help from Tom's wand and nearly immediately ran into McGonagall.

"Ah, there you are," she said as she saw the red-head. "Where is Hermione? We have to get going to Gringrotts and get money for the two of you."

"She's up reading in her room," Anna said. "I'll go up and get her." In less than 5 minutes, all three were standing outside the snow-white building that was Gringrotts.. They went inside and McGonagall organised a goblin guide to take them to Anna's vault. They rode in a cart that whizzed down the tracks, McGonagall and Hermione looking rather sick but Anna laughing in delight. Eventually, they stopped outside one of the vaults and McGonagall haded Griphook, their 'goblin guide', a small golden key. Griphook unlocked the vault door and it swung open. There were mountains of gold, silver and bronze, shimmering and glittering in the light from Griphook's lantern. Anna's jaw dropped open and she just stood there until McGonagall tapped her on the arm and handed her a small, leather bag.

"The golden coins are galleons, the silver ones are sickles and the bronze ones are Knuts. Seventeen sickles to a galleon, twenty-nine knuts to a sickle," McGonagall said as Anna quickly filled up her leather bag with galleons, sickles and Knuts. Once the bag was full, they hopped back in the cart, heading back to the main entrance so that Hermione could exchange her muggle money. This took a little while so Anna agreed with the other two to meet back up at sundown at the Leaky cauldron. She headed out into the fresh air and set off along the street. First stop she made was Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 BC. She walked into the small, cluttered store, sneezing as she stirred the dust.

"Hello. Miss Anna Woods, if I'm not mistaken." A soft voice came from behind Anna and she jumped and turned to see an old man with large, pale, silvery eyes. She smiled nervously at him. "Ah, yes. I was wondering whether you would be a witch or not. There was a great chance, seeing your bloodlines. Your grandmother was one of the best witches at Hogwarts. Rosewood with a unicorn hair core. Hold out your wand arm please." Anna guessed that he meant her writing hand and held out her right arm. He began to measure her, muttering inaudibly to himself. Eventually, he went to rummage amongst the boxes that lined the store walls. The tape measure continued to measure her, flitting around, almost too fast for her to catch but she got it first go. Mr Ollivander came back with a box.

"Redwood with chimaera hair. Give it a wave," he said, handing her a long, thin wand but almost immediately grabbed it back. "No, no, no, here, try this one. Ebony with unicorn hair." But that didn't seem to be the right one either. Each wand she tried never seemed to be right and Mr Ollivander just seemed to get happier. Just as she was trying a beech-wood with phoenix feather, the door opened and Anna turned just as Mr Ollivander snatched back the wand. Standing in the doorway was a tall, thin boy wearing clothes way too big for him. His black hair was all over the place, like Anna's and he wore glasses that had obviously been broken quite a few times. She grinned at him before turning back to Mr Ollivander who was handing her yet another wand.

"Ebony and dragon heart-string," he said as she took the wand. Suddenly, a warm feeling coursed through her body and a golden, reddish light was surrounding her body, her hair flying as if she was caught in a whirlwind. It lasted for about a second and then the light and the warm feeling receded. Mr Ollivander grinned and clapped. "Oh, yes!" he said and took the wand from her, wrapping it back up and handing the box and wand to her. "You'll become a powerful witch if you keep at it," he said, looking her in the eye. "Mark my words." Anna smiled at him, paid and turned to leave, smiling at the boy who was standing at the door, his face showing amazement. As she left, she heard Mr Ollivander greet the boy as Harry Potter. Once outside, she stopped and looked at her list.

"Right…I think I'll go to Flourish and Blotts now," she muttered to herself and set off for the bookstore. She bought the rest of her school stuff without much trouble and then, after a little thought, decided to get herself an owl. After a little bit, she emerged from Eeylops Owl Emporium with a large tawny owl in a cage. She had decided to name him Nuyki. As she was heading towards the Leaky Cauldron to drop off her stuff before going back to the ice-cream parlour, she heard someone yell and someone grabbed her shoulder.

"Ginny! Where were you? We've been-" Anna turned to see a red-haired boy who could've been her brother. He stopped talking and for a second they just stared at each other. Then the boy cleared his throat. "Um, sorry. I thought you were my sister. Have you seen her? She looks a lot like you only she's got longer hair." Anna shook her head and was about to answer when two more red-heads turned up, obviously twins and quite a few years older than the first boy.

"Who's this Ron?" one of the twins asked, grinning at them.

"Your girlfriend?" the other asked. Even their voices were the same. The first boy glared at them but they ignored him. "Hi. I'm Fred.

"And I'm George."

"And this is our brother, Ron."

"My name's Anna," Anna replied, liking the twins. "And sorry, I haven't seen your sister."

"Are you going to Hogwarts?" Ron asked her.

"Yeah! Are you?"

"Yep."

"Well, we've got to go now," Fred said.

"Ok. Bye!" Anna replied and Ron and the twins went back they way they had come and Anna went back to the Leaky Cauldron before going to the ice-cream parlour. When she got there, she saw a group of girls, all about a year younger than her, sitting together inside. One of them was a red-head that looked almost exactly like Anna, only she had longer hair. A thought flew across her mind as she ordered herself a chocolate sundae and sat down at the table next to the girls. She grinned across at the red-haired girl.

"Hi. Is your brother Ron?" Anna asked. The girl glanced at her friends before replying.

"Yeah. I'm Ginny," she said.

"Well, I just ran into him and his brothers Fred and George and they were looking for you."

"Oh, ok. Mum mustn't've told them that I could go here. Would you please not tell them? They always tease me."

"Sure!" Anna finished off her ice-cream quickly as sundown was approaching and headed back to the Leaky Cauldron after saying goodbye to Ginny and her friends. She found Hermione and McGonagall waiting for her in the bar and Hermione and Anna had dinner, McGonagall leaving via the fireplace as she was only there to make sure they didn't get into trouble.

The next few weeks passed quickly, with Anna and Hermione spending a lot of time at the ice-cream parlour, talking, reading and watching the world go by. Professor McGonagall would stop by each evening to check on them but besides that, they were allowed to do whatever they want. Anna even went on a little venture down Knockturn Alley after being told not to and had to be rescued from a Hand of Glory by McGonagall. Eventually, it was time to go to Kings Cross station to catch the train to Hogwarts. They caught the Knights Bus, 'Emergency transport for the stranded witch or wizard', to Kings Cross, arriving there at a quarter to 11. They pushed their trolleys up to the barrier between platforms 9 and 10 and Anna spotted the boy from the wand shop, Harry Potter, and Ron, the twins and Ginny. With them was another boy, obviously the eldest of the group, and a short woman who must have been their mother. Anna pushed her trolley up to them just as the eldest boy seemed to walk through the wall in-between the two platforms. One of the twins spotted Anna.

"Oy, Ron! It's your girlfriend!" he laughed before he and his brother went through the wall as well. Ron looked over at Anna and blushed.

"Hi Anna," he mumbled before his mother told him and the black haired boy to go through the barrier. Anna pushed her trolley up to the woman and Ginny.

"Hi. Um, how do I get onto the platform?" she asked politely, grinning at Ginny.

"Well, you just walk right into the wall. Best to do it at a bit of a run if you're feeing a bit nervous," she said, smiling friendlily at Anna. Anna nodded and backed up her trolley to face the barrier. Then she began to run towards it, clamping her eyes shut, ready for the shock as she rebounded off the wall. But instead, when there was no shock and she opened her eyes, she saw a large, crimson steam train. On it's side in big, black, bold letters read 'Hogwarts Express'. Anna wheeled her trolley out of the way as Hermione came through the barrier.

"Whoa…" Hermione said as she saw the train.

"Yeah. Come on, lets go find some seats," Anna replied as they started to wheel their trolleys down towards the passenger compartments. They dropped off their trunks and Nuyki with all the other trunks and owls and then walked down until they found an empty compartment. A few minutes later, the train was on it's way to Hogwarts. Hermione and Anna talked for about half and hour, stopping to get sweets off the trolley as it went past, before someone opened to door to their compartment. It was a round-faced boy who was looking slightly tearful.

"Have either of you seen a toad? I've lost mine," he asked. Hermione got up.

"Sorry but we haven't. D'you want us to help look?" she asked him. He nodded. Anna got up and went out into the corridor.

"You guys go that way, I'll go this way and ask. What's your name?" she asked.

"Neville," he replied before Anna set off down the corridor, sticking her head into compartments and asking about the toad. When she was close to the front of the train, she opened the door of a compartment with three boys in it, one pale and blonde and the other two looking rather like boulders.

"Hi, have any of you seen a toad?" she began. The pale boy stood up.

"No and even if I had, I probably wouldn't tell you," he said rudely. Anna glared at him.

"Alright, alright, no need to be rude," she said hotly.

"I can be rude if I want to."

"Oh yeah? Well you'd better watch it if you're gonna be rude around me," Anna said with only the slightest hint of a threat in her voice. The boy regarded her curiously.

"You must be a Weasley, what with your hair."

"Wrong. I haven't even heard of the Weasleys. I'm Anna Woods."

"Malfoy. Draco Malfoy." The name showed no recognition on Anna's face and Malfoy grinned. "Well if you haven't heard of the Malfoys or the Weasleys, then you must be a mudblood." Anna's face grew red at the name. Hermione had told her about mudbloods and purebloods. Her glare hardened.

"Don't. You. Call. Me. A. Mudblood," she snarled, her teeth clenched in anger.

"Oh, yeah? Mudblood? Oomph!" Malfoy yelled this last bit as Anna's clenched fist connected with his stomach. The two other boys stood up suddenly and took a step forward in unison. Anna raised her fists, ready to fight.

"Anna!" Hermione yelled as she ran towards her friend. "What is going on?"

"He called me a mudblood," Anna replied angrily, still glaring at Malfoy. "And I'm not one." Malfoy looked as if he was about to speak when he noticed the look in Anna's eyes and instead he turned and went back into his compartment, slamming the door. Anna let out a short laugh and turned to walk down the corridor, back to her and Hermione's compartment. They sat down in silence and then glanced at each other, bursting out in laughter.

"You should've seen the look on his face when I hit him!" Anna gasped through her tears. They talked about that for quite a bit afterwards before their laughter died out and they got changed into their robes.

"I'm going up to ask the driver how much longer until we arrive at Hogwarts," Hermione said, getting up. Anna nodded.

"Ok, I'll just stay here." Hermione left and Anna sat there, thinking and eating the remains of what they had bought off the trolley. Then she saw Malfoy and his two friends go past, not seeing her. She stood up and went out into the corridor, watching after them. A grin spread across her face as an idea came to her and she closed the door of their compartment, walking after the trio. They stopped outside another compartment and went inside. She came up behind them and stood in the doorway. Inside the compartment were the trio, Ron and the boy from the wand shop. Malfoy saw Ron glance at Anna, over his shoulder, and he turned to face her.

"Well, if it isn't the little mudblood?" he said. His eyes widened as Anna's face grew red again and her eyes took on the same look as before.

"Do you want another punch, Malfoy?" she asked sweetly. She and Malfoy stared at each other, obvious dislike coursing between them. Then one of Malfoy's friends let out a yell and he stared to shake his hand furiously, trying to shake off the rat that had attached itself to his finger. The rat soon flew off and hit the window. Malfoy and his friends then rushed out of the compartment and down the corridor. Anna laughed and looked back at the two boys who were examining the rat for signs of life.

"I think he's been knocked out," Ron said. "No - I don't believe it - he's gone back to sleep." They looked up at Anna. "Hi Anna."

"Hiya," she said back. She grinned at the black haired boy. "My name's Anna. Remember we saw each other at Ollivander's?" The boy nodded.

"Yeah, I remember you. My name's Harry. Harry Potter," he replied. "How do you and Ron know each other?"

"I mistook her for my sister in Diagon Alley," Ron said, his head down.

"There you are Anna. What's been going on in here?" Hermione asked as she came up behind Anna. She surveyed the compartment and then looked at Anna. "Have you tried to beat up Malfoy again?"

"Wow, you beat up Malfoy?" Ron exclaimed. Anna blushed and bowed.

"It was my pleasure," she laughed. She grew slightly more serious. "He called me a mudblood." Ron looked shocked.

"Anyway," Hermione interrupted. "You'd better get changed into your robes. We'll be at Hogwarts soon."

"Yeah, yeah, can you leave us to change?" Ron said grumpily. Hermione turned and left. Anna paused for a moment, grinning at them, before she went after Hermione. The train did indeed arrive soon and they got off the train, onto the platform.

"Firs' years! Firs' years over here!" Anna turned to see who was speaking and saw a huge man with a big, black beard. She and Hermione walked over towards him with the rest of the first year students. They were lead over to the edge of a large lake where a fleet of boats was waiting for them. They all shuffled around until everyone was in a boat. To Anna's dismay, she found herself in the same boat as Malfoy and his friends. But there was no time to switch boats because as soon as everyone was in, the boats set off, sailing themselves across the smooth, dark lake. Hermione gave Anna a sympathetic smile from her boat with Neville, Harry and Ron as their boats passed but Malfoy and his cronies just ignored her, though she had to share a seat with Malfoy. After what seemed to be an age, the boats reached the other side of the lake and every scrambled out onto dry land. Anna rejoined with Hermione and they all followed Hagrid, up to the castle that loomed above them, magnificent and tall. They went in through the huge front doors and were met by Professor McGonagall, who led them to a small room just off the humungous entrance hall. They waited there, all of them nervous, and were surprised as a bunch of ghosts drifted through the room. Finally, McGonagall came back and led them to the great hall, where all the other students were waiting at four large tables. At the very end of the hall was another table, behind which were all the teachers. At the middle of the table was a huge chair and in it sat an old man, tall and with a long, silver beard. Anna knew that this must be Dumbledore, the headmaster. The line of first years was led up to the teacher's table, in front of which stood a stool. On the stool was a patched and fraying hat. Everyone grew silent and stared at the hat. Then it moved, opening at a rip like a mouth and it began to sing a song that was ridiculous and yet it made sense. Finally, the song ended and everyone burst into applause. Then McGonagall, who was standig beside the hat, opened a scroll that she was holding.

"When I call your name, you will put on the hat and sit on the stool to be sorted," she said before she called out the first name. After a little bit, Hermione's name was called and she walked forward eagerly to put on the hat.

"GRYFFINDOR!" the hat yelled and Hermione ran off to join the Gryffindor table. A little while later, 'Potter, Harry' was called. The hat took a bit longer to decide with him but he was finally declared a Gryffindor. Malfoy was sorted into Slytherin and Ron also became Gryffindor. Finally, 'Woods, Anna' was called and she walked slowly up to the hat and put it on.

A/N: there, second chapter and a fair deal longer than the first. Pls R&R but no flames!