Chapter 2 Street Wise-
Pride Street was your typical magical street. A perfect choice for all magic families. Where Tom's home was in the midst of the urban jungle, Pride Street was just part of a rural magical village. As it was unaccessible for non-magical folk they didn't need to hide their magic. You could see this in the moving markets and the cross-country Quidditch tournaments around the place. The houses were built as if they had been built in the middle ages, in a good way. Exciting arches and beams and patterns of gnomes or other magical creatures engraved into the walls which change colour according to the time of day. So you could see that the village of Rowan was a perfect choice for Richard's and Harry's families.
'I am so going to get you!', shouted Harry as Richard lobbed another stink bomb over the hedge, landing on Harry's laundry basket. 'Not if I get you first, or again!', replied Richard, grinning. Harry cunningly hid behind the tree out of Richard's eyeshot who burst through the hedge, expecting to land on Harry's waist. As Richard toppled over, Harry flew onto his back and tied him down, laughing.
'Oooh look at you two', said Jackie while carrying her papers. 'I just came back from Florence's Fire Fenders and I see this'. She shot her wand out and uttered one of her cleaning charms and everything went back to normal. 'Anyways, Florence said to me that because of my work we could go and eat some discount ice-creams at her brother Florean's Ice-Cream parlour. We could also get the school stuff. I was thinking we could go today if it's alright with your mum Harry'.
'Yeah, sure she won't mind', replied Harry grinning. 'Well, you better ask her first then!' said Jackie while smiling. Harry instantly ran towards his house shouting, 'Your mum is really cool Richard!'
'So why can't Dad and Uncle come?'
'Ah, they said that they needed to do a raid on house in Ottery St Catchpole or somewhere'.
They both laughed at seeing Harry running back grinning saying, 'It's alright! She's just given me the key!'
After having a successful landing at The Leaky Cauldron Jackie repeated the shopping list, reading the list off the note they were given in the letter. They all walked through the crowded pub smiling, mainly because some people in there knew them somehow. It is a small world if you are magical as it is impossible not to be related. Harry read allowed the note they were given.
First year students will require:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk
Herbology– Ground Level by Neville Longbottom
History of Magic by Ruphundus Tibbins
1001 Creatures and where to find them by I.K. Boatling
Dark Arts Encyclopaedia by Remus Lupin
1 wand
1 ministry-approved thick-bottomed cauldron.
1 pet. Owl OR rat OR cat OR frog.
Hogwarts Uniform
'Pretty heavy isn't it' said Harry, 'we better get our money then'.
Richard nodded affirmatively as he watched his mother tapping the wall with her wand, trying to memorise what bricks to press.
The wall magically opened out and Diagon Alley was now in front of them. The ancient wizarding street which you could tell has been around for ages by the weathered stones in the building work and the dates on the shop windows. They weaved in between the other shoppers on the winding cobbled streets. In sequence they both turned their heads longingly towards 'Quality Quidditch Supplies' until Jackie ushered them off to go faster, telling them they would go later and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is a bad shop even though they are taking in 10 times what their neighbouring shops are earning. They passed an old junk shop and Flourish and Blotts until they arrived where they wanted to go, the full majesty of Gringotts Bank.
The grand doors automatically opened and they gazed at the intricacy. After waiting for two minutes, and after being asked some pretty awkward questions (for security) they were taken to their money cells. Using a sack they took their money (70 galleons each) and left, their moneybags jingling.
'Well, that was interesting', said Richard bustling through the crowds of other people with their empty bags, looking for a refill. Jackie nodded, grinning like a teenager, 'Yeah, I love the getting money part of shopping at Gringotts'. 'I was being sarcastic', Richard curtly replied. Jackie pretended she didn't listen. She looked around through the crowds and smiled seeing a big man and a young man and lady. A huge smile spread though her lips and she called out, 'HAGRID!'
Tom felt that he had already made a friend at Hogwarts school as he walked around the muggle shopping complexes with Jodie. He felt that she was helping him get used to the 'other world' where Hagrid was taking them to. He looked around as the muggles swarmed in and out, and upon seeing McDonalds he felt a bit hungry. He was about to ask whether they could possibly have a quick bite or not, but he knew that they better move on.
As he walked he made a conversation with Jodie enjoying the conversation. The range of topics discussed drew on from Pop Artists, bands to computer games and television programs. She was the first one to ask anything personal, "So where are you from?" asked Jodie as they walked by a bright arcade.
"Oh, I live in a house in Plymouth with my brother; my parents died you see. What about you?"
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Jodie said with a hint of sympathy, "my parents died too, when I was little. My foster-parents died as well, so I am living in a Foster-House now".
Tom felt a twinge of sorrow for the girl walking next to him.
"I'm sorry, that must really suck."
"Yeah, I am wondering if my first parents had a link to this world, I have only a surname to go on," replied Jodie.
"Oh? What is it?" Tom asked inquisitively. Realizing that he may be nosing in her business, he added, "Sorry, I am being a bit too intrusive aren't I?"
"No, don't worry about it" Jodie replied with a bright smile, "it's Zabini, I go by Heartly because it was my foster parent's name. That and I think Zabini is a bit weird for a surname" She grinned at him, "Have you heard of it?"
Tom shook his head in reply. "No," he said, "I haven't."
"Ah, don't worry. I will be surprised if anyone has. So how did you get the letter?".
"It just came by an Owl, it was so weird!"
"Really? I had this person from the school come to my house. His name was Longbottom. It's a funny name, don't you think?" Jodie gave a little smirk, she thought the surname was amusing, "He seemed quite nice though".
"Really? So what happened?" Tom was really interested now.
"Well he met my Social-Worker and said that I was invited to go to a boarding school. He showed her this piece of paper which seemed to answer all her questions, I guess. She didn't object to me leaving anyhow. Then he took me into my room, and told me himself that I was a Witch. He gave me this key, to somewhere called Gringotts, which I suppose is where we are going!" She smiled at him, and took a deep breath.
"I wonder why I didn't get a key? I was told to bring £75, do you think that-"
"Ah, you would 'njoy Hogwarts" Hagrid said loudly, cutting into what Tom was about to say, "'Uge towers, boomin landscapes, I should show you that flock of threstrals I got trained, right lovely bunch they are.". Hagrid kept rambling, both Tom and Jodie unable to get a word in. Tom felt that something else was going. His suspicions were growing with each passing moment.
They walked on, and Hagrid kept talking, but Tom and Jodie appeared to have lost concentration on what he was saying. Suddenly they were standing in front of a place which people passing by didn't even give a second glance but just ignored it as they walked by. Tom grew even more suspicious, starting to realise that it could be something horrible.
Something was about to happen. He heard about strange people who did bad things to children on the news. The guy leading, this Hagrid, looked strangely suspicious now, he had a dangerous look about him. Tom curled his fists and looked defensive, while Jodie interrupted Hagrid's babbling, "Where are we?"
"Oh, I though' I told yeh" replied Hagrid, "we're gonna go into the Leaky Cauldron, then Gringotts will be our next stop". Tom, thinking that he had come this far, couldn't rid himself of the unease but knew he may as well go in. Maybe his suspicious would be laid to rest. Jodie gave him an understanding look. He looked at the pub, it looked repulsive with blackened windows and the sign was covered in grime.
Hagrid walked up to the door and opened it, Jodie and Tom walked in and Tom was shocked to see a wizened figure looking down on them giving them an open smile, and he didn't have any teeth on them.
"Would you like a drink Hagrid?" said the barman, or the landlord as he was reaching for a glass, "Beer, Brandy?"
"No Tom, I am afraid I am jus' passin through, per'aps some other time though," Hagrid replied to the person.
There was a loud bang behind them and Tom saw a pair of men playing what looked like snap, but when ether a pair came a-cropper and someone said snap, it exploded. Tom didn't have any doubts about what was happening now.
"Come on now, we don't wanna be dawdlin' here now" said Hagrid, giving him what looked like a wise look. Hagrid walked on to a backdoor saying, "Follow me."
They walked through the back door into a courtyard and watched Hagrid search inside his pockets, which happened to look like they were the size of bin-liners. They saw him draw out a pink umbrella and Tom gave him a strange look. "Watch this," Hagrid said with an eager smile, "but don't tell any'un about the umbrella, it's a secret mind you."
They stood back and watched him tap several bricks, in amazement they saw the bricks slide away forming a perfect arch which was big enough even for Hagrid to walk through. What was also amazing was that a street opened up to them, "OH MY GOD!" shouted Jodie full heartedly in amazement. Tom gave a laugh, knowing that they have entered a new world.
"Welcome," said Hagrid, "to Diagon Alley".
He chuckled at Jodie's and Tom's amazement. They stepped through the Archway. Tom looked back over his shoulder and saw the archway shrink insightly into the solid wall. at the quantity and strangeness of the shops they passed as they walked along the long cobbled street. Seeing people eat under the brightly coloured umbrellas outside cafés. Tom wished that his eyes could take in everything as they passed through the street. He turned his head in every single direction, into shops with names which were foreign to Tom's ears. Quality Quidditch Supplies which had broomsticks inside it,. "Look at that mate" Tom heard one of them say, "the Power-Phoenix - fastest ever". There were shops wihich were selling robes, wands and telescopes. They heard a huge noise coming from an Animal-Shop called Magical Menagerie (which had a jewel-encrusted tortoise by the sparkling window which made Jodie whelp). They passed the Apothecary and several bookshops. They also passed an eccentric shop called Weasley's Wizard Wheezes as he drew closer, Tom felt a huge surge of mischievousness.
"We'll be exploring 'em later" Hagrid said, almost as if he knew what Tom was about to ask, "we'll just have to go to Gringotts first, do you have your money Tom, and do you have your key Jodie?"
Tom remembered the request in the letter asking for everyone to bring at least £75 when they come. however his brother gave him £200. He nodded, feeling a huge bulge of notes in his pocket. He saw Jodie nod too.
They walked to a glistening snowy-white building and were stunned at what they saw. Patrick noticed that standing beside it's burnished bronze doors, wearing a uniform of scarlet and gold, was -
"Yeah, that's a Goblin" said Hagrid quietly as they walked up the steps. The Goblin was so small that it only came up to Hagrid's knees. It had a face which shown intelligence and cunning, a pointed beared and unnusually sized fingers and feet, He bowed as they walked inside.
After walking through two sets of doors they were inside a huge hall with pure, glistening marble floors. Being stepped on by busy feet worn both by people half the size and twice as ugly as human beings and normal, magical people. They wandered on until Hagrid led them onto a queue which dispersed slowly. Eventually they were in front of a high desk, with a goblin sitting behind it. Hagrid spoke first, "this gurl is under number 5894 which is on special case 37 which Professor Longbottom discussed with Gringotts about".
Tom's eyebrows lifted in amazement, he looked at Jodie who looked bewildered and slightly angry, she was about to say something to Hagrid but the goblin cut into her, as if he knew her reaction.
"Do you have the key" said the Goblin cutting into her the way he pronounced his words made the hairs lift off Tom's body. Jodie gave the Goblin the key warily as if she didn't want to let go.
The Goblin stared at the key and turned it over in his hands, "that is enough" he said and returned the key to Jodie.
The Goblin leapt up from it's chair and said, "Very well, I will find someone to take you to the vault, Grimetongue!"
Grimetongue was another Goblin, his face was full of cunning but actually more uglier than other house-elves. Grimetongue looked at the people he would be leading, "Is the boy coming also?" "Yes," Hagrid said in reply.
After Jodie insisted on pocketing the key herself, and not letting Hagrid look after it. They walked out through a door leading off the hall. afterseeing the splendeur of the hall he was surprised to see a cold and forbidding cold tunnel with nothing but a railway track on it. Grimetongue whistled and a cart suddenly came up the tracks to join them. They all climbed in - Hagrid with a lot of difficulty - and sped off through the tunnel.
At first they were going through a maze of tunnels, twisting and jerking. The cart must of known where to go because Grimetongue wasn't steering. Eventually they raced even further down into something darker, Tom could of sworn he glimpsed something like a fireball but it was impossible to know because the Cart was going at such a breakneck speed.
Eventually the cart stopped and Tom felt a chill go through him as he breathed in the cold air. Hagrid staggered out of the cart murmuring, "I hate these journeys." and Jodie just looked dumbstruck.
"Hagrid" she asked, "is there something you and Longbottom are hiding?"
"Can't tell yer that," said Hagrid with an air of mystery, "more 'n my jobs worth, it can't come from me. I think Professor Longbottom will explain everything when we get to 'Ogwarts".
Jodie was about to say something but she was distracted as the Goblin's hand touched the door and it whirred around and opened up, similar to the way the door to Diagon Alley opened. A huge mist of green smoke came billowing out of it. They entered into the vault and saw the mountains of gold, mounds of silver and heaps of little bronze nuts.
He looked again at Jodie and couldn't tell what she was thinking, her parents were magical, and very rich by the looks of it.
"My mum and dad, they were magical" Jodie said to Hagrid, "did you know this?"
"I wern't allowed to tell you abou' yer parents" he replied, "I'm sorry, no' allowed to tell you anything. You will be tol' at 'Ogwarts. I'm sorry, please don't question me."
Jodie stopped, if he was anybody more ordinary then she would have lunged at him, shouting at him about the years of waiting in that hell-hole. However, she was intimidated by Hagrid's size, and no matter how friendly he was, she was still intimidated by the fact that he could crush her. "They were called Zabini weren't they Hagrid?" she bought herself to say, with tears sparkling in her eyes.
Hagrid nodded, almost sullenly and defeated. Tom felt an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of his stomach, realization that he was in something older, deeper and more mysterious than the vault he was standing in washed over him.
They didn't speak as they took the cart-ride to the main hall. Jodie realised that something very dark was happening around her, as if her life was revealed as a big lie. He looked at Jodie's venomous expression at Hagrid who knew a secret about her but he won't say.
Tom felt a shiver go down his spine, what if Hogwart's was as worse as this? Lies and secrecy? He felt that he didn't want to go to Hogwarts anymore. He should go to Thigby Comp with his normal friends and shut out magic altogether.
"Righ' then we better get your money changed" Hagrid said in a cheerful tone, "follow me, i've dun this many o' times before." They were soon led to a desk where sat a Goblin handle money as familiarly as a dealer with his cards. The Goblin looked at a set of numbers at the front of him (exchange rate) and on the space in front of him.
Tom walked up and said to the Goblin politely, "excuse me Sir, could you change £200 for me." The Goblin nodded and surveyed Tom carefully, "well that's why i'm here young man, although I hate this position the Great Griphook dealing with muggle money?"
Tom felt a bit uncomfortable and was thankful to see the Goblin give him a sackfull of gold coins.
They walked away and Hagrid gave him a nod, "don't like those flamin' Goblins, 'at 'oblin especially." Tom looked at him with interest, "why not Hagrid?"
"'Well, their's a big story about 'im connected with the down fall of 'oo know 'oo, he gave his services for the good side for the Gryffindor Sword, he 'ot it but then one nigh' it vanished an' returned to it's rightful owner, which is now Nevile Longbottom, to get money he's back workin' for the bank he 'obbed, but in a lesser position cos the other banks won't take 'im. As 'oo can tell he's very bitter."
Tom gave a nod of understanding, 'another tale' he thought silently, 'this place is full of them!' He started to onder who Hagrid refered to as you-know-who, because he didn't know. He was about to ask when suddenly he heard a huge exclamation, "HAGRID!"
He turned around and saw this lady run towards the huge man next to him.
"'Ell if it isn't little Jodie, 'ow are 'oo me old mucker?" Hagrid said as she gave him a hug.
He looked at the people with her, two lads his age. One of them shook their head and said with a coy smile, "please, don't ask." Tom felt an irresistable urge to grin.
Tom, Richard and Harry were like peas and carrots. Tom's sensible personality went on well with Richard's eagerness and brought about a new aspect to Harry's fierce and aggressive soul. Tom felt a bit left out initially as they conversed while making their way out of Gringotts.
"Hopefully we'll see a fair few Quidditch games this year", Richard said.
"Yeah, I just hate the fact that we can't try out this year. I tell you, it's bloody stupid", replied Harry.
"Sorry, but what did you just say? What is quidditch?" Tom asked with a bemused look on his face.
"Are you for real?" Harry said with a slight smile, "Quidditch is a game where a team of people fly on broomsticks. One person catches a snitch, the other people hit the balls to people and some gain or stop goals coming through hoops"
"Sort of like basketball."
"What the heck is basketball?"
"People run across ground and throw balls into hoops", Tom said simply.
"What? Without flying or anything? That sounds absolutely crazy!" Richard exclaimed. Tom had no choice but to snort with laughter.
They continued on through Diagon Alley. Tom looked back and saw Jodie who looked a little left out of the banter between the boys. They went through several shops, some of which greatly amused Tom, like when he walked by a small shop which claimed to be a branch of Honeydukes. Inside there were about 5 kids floating 10 inches above the ground. He felt like he was in a film or a book and hoped feverously that it wouldn't be a horror one. He looked at the pubs and saw several wizards fighting over a game of Gobstones. One of them had pus soaked all over their clothes.
He crossed off several items from his list as the day went on. He bought robes from Madame Malkins which was a strange feeling because he never had his clothes fitted before. He bought several books from Flourish and Blotts which lightened his money bag and made his rucksack heavier. He also bought several objects from the Apothecary though he nearly felt sick after he saw items like 'hog's lobes' and a vile smelling dish called frogs tentacles. He walked through several shops and stayed a long while in Quality Quidditch Supplies and watched with amusement as Harry tested out nearly every bat in the shop for swing. Also Richard was checking through the gloves like a librarian through books.
Afterwards he felt slightly rebellious and wanted to go to the magical pet shop. Upon entering the place he was struck dumb by the sights. There were pictures everywhere of huge creatures - something like an albino elephant but with eight tusks and a ruby-embroidered trumpet.
He was fascinated by all the pictures because they moved, as if they were like televisions. He even checked the back of them to see if there were any circuit wires or any form of electricity. He stepped backwards when he arrived at one picture for two reasons. It wasn't a photograph like others, it was a portrait and the animal in the picture looked curious. Like a mix between an eagle and a rhino.
"I see you are fascinated by the Crumple-Horned-Snorkack" said a dreamy voice which made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He looked at the speaker and saw an eerily beautiful blonde woman with weird earrings who looked as if she was in a trance.
"A crumble-horned-what sorry?"
"A crumble-horned-snorkack...the animal doesn't move much, it is a very shy picture," the woman said. She paused, gazing into the distance before suddenly snapping back to Tom's plane of understanding. "Oh, my name's Luna, Luna Scamander."
"Don't listen to her" Harry said, "there is no such thing as a crumple-horned-snorkack."
"There is too!" Luna replied vehemently, "they just don't get seen much, tell him Rolf!"
She gestured to a timid man, nerdy looking with glasses. "Sure there are honey sure they are", he replied simply.
As soon as Luna walked out of earshot the man quickly said to the kids, "Don't worry, that's Luna for you. Anyway, there are no such thing as crumple-horned-snorkacks but she is still chasing them, she drags me here nearly every day because she insists that the Pygmypuffs are miniature and future Heliopaths and wanting to note their utterly boring nature. She is an incredibly smart person though, first person to work out how to kill a Chimaera and live to tell the tale."
"'N I've never forgiven 'er for it" replied the booming voice of Hagrid.
"Chimaeras aren't those lion-like creatures who breathe out hot fire with a snake and a goat attached to them, are they?" Tom asked. Richard looked coolly surprised. "How did you know that?"
"Just picked it up" Tom replied simply.
He felt that the little shred of information he knew about the wizard-world was comforting. Eventually Tom settled on buying an owl, he watched as Richard bought a cat and felt bewildered that Harry settled on buying a toad. "Toads are back in fashion" Harry said simply.
They all walked out and headed to an old and creaky place named Ollivanders. It was a strange place to walk into as the place was all dusty and full of cigar smoke. Tom coughed and tried to wave the smoky air away from him, apparently the smoking ban in Britain hadn't reached the magical world.
"Oh cripes, sorry 'bout that", a voice piped up and after a swish of a wand all of the smoke seemed to enter into the tip of a wand like water swirling into a drain. He made out the man who looked fairly good-looking but was smoking on a pipe which didn't look as if it suited him.
"I have started working for the family business, I am a bit new to shop-working but I like to think that I keep my Grandpa's excellent memory and knack of choosing the perfect wand."
The people went in a line, Tom was at the back and a very eager Richard was at the front. "I think you look like the charms type, your family seem to have a look of account and memorising but you are somewhat different." The man reached for a wand
and passed it to Richard. He flicked it and some shelves flew down, the man tutted and said, "nevermind, Rome wasn't built in a day, try the old 11 inch Willow with Unicorn Tail. It is extremely swishy so it's brilliant for charms" Richard flicked the wand and the wand tip started igniting so bright and crackling like a sparkler.
"I believe this is the right one" the man said with a grin, he took the wand and placed it into a box and gave it back to Richard, "this shall be yours to keep for the rest of your life, be careful with it."
Harry was next, after about 5 trys he landed on an Ash wand with Centaur Hair.
"Centaurs are terribly fierce to Humans so you could imagine the difficulty in getting hairs, although I finally managed to find a friendly one called Firenze, he'll teach you Divination when you progress through school." Harry seemed quite pleased with the result.
Jodie was next, Ollivander didn't know what to make of her after what seemed like a 100 tries each with equally boring results Mr Ollivander grimaced and passed her a black looking wand. "This is a Hawthorn Wand with Dragon Heartstring, it's very unyielding I have to say" he passed her the wand. Quickly Jodie swished the wand and scarily what looked like a lightening bolt cracked out of the wand. "I think this is exactly the right wand for you" said Mr Ollivander wearily.
Tom felt an urge of excitement as he walked up to the counter. "Wand arm?" asked Mr Ollivander to which Tom promptly answered, "Left." He felt nervous as the man surveyed him curiously.
"Well Mr Tom I don't know what to make of you. I feel that you have a lot of raw-power in you. Something I haven't seen since Harry Potter and Dumbledore." Tom didn't know how to feel, he just simply shrugged. "This would take some time", Mr Ollivander said with a slight sigh. It did, after trying out what seemed to be every wand in the shop. The man looked slightly exasperated every time a wand failed. The man said quietly as if he was talking to himself, "well, you cannot go outside this shop without a wand...Ollivanders have never had that before, but this is very serious occasion, could this work?" Tom felt a bit uneasy, especially the look of Mr Ollivander as he drew out a key and opened a cupboard. "These contain very special wands, collected through the centurys, when we sell a wand, there always is another couple of wands made which have the same cores. We have the wand's with the brother-cores of Rowena Ravenclaw and Odo the Brave's and other historical figure's wands, some of them were owned by the characters on your chocolate frog cards." Tom heard someone whistle behind them and thought that this would probably be like receiving the boots of David Beckham. "I wonder if any of them call for an allegiance?"
Mr Ollivander took one wand out, "Aphrodia quite the charmer in a way of looks she had veela hair, this wand was made out of Rosewood and with the hair from the same Veela." Tom gave it a wave, a red rose dully fell out of the wand.
The owner took the wand back into the cupboard and carefully took out a dark looking wand, "Ash with sentinel-heart, very rare, it's brother's wand was owned by Grindelwald. Tom gave it a flick but only a spider fell out.
"Okay that didn't work", Ollivander said as he took back the wand and reached inside the cupboard, "okay, I have a feeling this one might." The wand-maker handed Tom the wand, he swished it again and suddenly was taken aback by a series of fireworks flying out of the wand. He felt a huge burst of excitement. As the fireworks faded he looked into Mr Ollivander's smiling face.
"I believe the wand has finally chosen the wizard. Interestingly enough, that wand's core is the brother of the core of the wand previously owned by none other than Albus Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore huh?" Jackie said while they exited Ollivander's.
"Yeah, it was a bit of an advantage that they had to follow the Wand Economy Law eh?"
"They made the Wand Economy Law, Harry, so the wand is sold at the price of the materials and the added 5 Galleon profit margin," Jackie stated and shrugged at the weird looks from the rest of the group, "it's something I picked up at work."
"Dumbledore was the best man I ever knew, save 'Arry of course" Hagrid said reminiscently, "Great man, Dumbledore, great man"
They walked back in the direction of The Leaky Cauldron and Tom felt content about what he has purchased as he had crossed off every item on the list. He turned back to Hagrid and asked, "Shouldn't we be going by now?"
Harry interrupted them, "Oh come on Tom, you ought to check out Weasley's?"
Tom was instantly reminded of that funny shop he passed earlier with Jodie, he looked at her and felt a bit sad as she looked left out.
Hagrid replied, "Well, we might as well drop in and say hello to George, per'aps Ron would be there."
"Yeah that would be a laugh" Jackie said while nodding.
Passing by were many wizarding families with small children. Most of the children were grinning with pleasure and walking with a spring in their step. They had a look of mischief on their faces while on the other hand the parents had a mournful look on, perhaps because of the amount of money they had spent and worried about the mischievous glint on their children's faces.
They walked inside the shop and passed through several stacks of boxes. Jackie started looking around while Richard and Harry picked up a set of Exploding Snap. Tom walked up to Jodie in an effort to make a conversation.
"So yeah, you feeling as weird as I am?"
"Weird as you, no chance," Jodie replied with a smirk on her face, she turned around and picked up an object which was similar to the wands they had just bought earlier. She jumped when it turned into a Rubber-Chicken. Tom cracked up with laughter while Jodie, smiling joyfully, started attacking Tom hilariously with the chicken.
"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY SHOP!"
They whipped around as one and at once were blinded by the beams of light that were heading off in all directions. Through all the turmoil in the shop they could make out a middle-aged man who seemingly did not possess one ear but a load of red hair. At this moment this bothered him little, as they watched him masterfully directing several red coloured jets out of his wand at a shady man wearing a cloak. Out of nowhere came another red-headed person, firing a burst of hexes at the man. The man deflected the shots and managed to reach the door and stumble out of it and as soon as he reached the outside world he vanished into thin air.
"What the bleedin' hell was that about?" said Harry.